After 13 years of playoff frustration – and an 0-6 record in those win-or-go-home games – many Dallas Cowboys fans look at tonight’s game against Philadelphia with cautious optimism and a healthy respect for the past.

That’s Joe DeCaro’s take, anyway, and this lifelong Cowboys fan from New York City – a staff blogger for lonestarstruck.com – can’t understand it.

“In our weekly chats, it seems very, very few are taking the plunge and getting excited,” said DeCaro, “JoeD” to his readers. “It’s like they don’t want to jinx it.”

That’s understandable.

Sure, the ‘Boys beat the Eagles twice this year, including Sunday’s thumping in Arlington, the site of tonight’s game. And the Cowboys are on a roll, winners of three straight, two of them shutouts and the third against the previously undefeated New Orleans Saints.

The running game is clicking, Tony Romo seems to have an answer for any defensive scheme and the Cowboys “D” has been lights out. What could possibly go wrong?

Oh yeah, there was that game against the New York Giants on Jan. 13, 2008, their third matchup of the year. The high-flying Cowboys won the first two. They lost the one that really counted.

The fans haven’t forgotten.

To DeCaro, though, that was then and this is now.

Just as spring brings hope to every baseball fan, even in North Texas, DeCaro figures the parity found throughout the NFL means a few off-season changes can lift last year’s losers right into the playoff race.

“I’m very optimistic and have been all year,” he said. “I figured playoffs and believed we’d win the NFC East, no doubt about it.”

But when he saw the enthusiasm of fans in Philadelphia and New York, and then looked at Dallas, “I wondered, ‘Where’s the noise?’ “

OK, so it’s Baseball’s Opening Day and I bet you all think that I let my Cowboys focus rest for just this one day. WRONG, think again! Sure, I’m a big baseball fan too, but don’t think the Cowboys are ever out of sight, out of mind.

You know football fans enjoys hot dogs, peanuts and Cracker Jacks, just as much as baseball fans do! And yes, I am fixin’ to have some hot dogs tonight when I watch the Cards vs. Mets on ESPN tonight.

I must say that I am a big fan of the offseason moves that the Cowboys have made so far. Our Cowboys have been the most active team this off-season, and our owner, Jerry Jones has forked over some pretty big bucks, but if that’s what it takes to improve the team, then bring it on! (sorry to use such a corny line from a ridiculous football movie) There’s no mistaking that Leonard Davis and Ken Hamlin were huge additions to the team.

As far as the whole new coaching staff goes, well what’s not to like? We have a great coach with NFL experience in Wade Phillips. But we also injected the staff with some young up and comers who are considered some of the most promising future coaches in the game! I’m talking about guys like Jason Garrett, Ray Sherman, Brian Stewart and one of my favorite Cowboys, Dat Nguyen!

We also have some second and third year players that are on the verge of becoming huge stars in the NFL, like Marion Barber, DeMarcus Ware and my sleeper pick for 2007, Bobby Carpenter!

You want some more good news? We are looking great for the NFL Draft! No only do we have all our picks, but because our shortcomings have been solved through free agency, we will be in the position to draft the best athletes available rather than drafting to fill a need. Teams that show up on Draft Day with that philosophy most often end up with the best drafts. We are in a great position to trade up and steal the best player in the draft!

So where am I going with all this Cowboys enthusiasm on baseball’s Opening Day? Absolutely nowhere! I just wanted you all to know that I might be wearing a Mets cap tonight, but make no mistake about it people, I’m a Cowboys fan 24/7!